Salman Khan returns as ‘Prem’ with Sooraj Barjatiya’s ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ for the 15th time onscreen

Salman Khan, who will be playing the role of 'Prem' opposite Sonam Kapoor in Sooraj Barjatiya’s ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, will in fact be returning as the same character name for the 15th time in his film career.

Salman Khan, Salman Khan Prem, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Salman Khan Prem

Salman Khan, who will be playing the role of ‘Prem’ opposite Sonam Kapoor in Sooraj Barjatiya’s ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, will in fact be returning as the same character name for the 15th time in his film career.

A number of films including ‘Maine Pya Kiya’, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Judwaa’, ‘Biwi No 1’ and ‘No Entry’ among others had Salman as Prem. What’s interesting is that all these films were huge commercial hits for the actor.

So, not only is ‘Prem’ synonymous with Salman Khan just like ‘Raj’ is with Shah Rukh Khan, but seems like the name is sure guarantee for success to the actor.

‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ marks Salman Khan’s reunion with his favourite filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya after ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, which was released in 1999. Salman played the role of a shy ‘Prem’ in ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, which had an overwhelming response and went on to become the highest grossing film of the year.

Salman’s ‘shyness’ became the trademark of his character and was the most loved by his fans.

Salman Khan, Salman Khan Prem, Salman Khan Hum Saath Saath Hain, Judwaa

Seems like Sooraj Barjatya highly banks on the name ‘Prem’ for guaranteed success since in all his past works with Salman, the filmmaker has cast the ‘Dabangg’ actor as Prem.

Seems like Sooraj Barjatya highly banks on the name ‘Prem’ for guaranteed success since in all his past works with Salman Khan, the filmmaker has cast the ‘Dabangg’ actor as Prem.

This practice whether deliberate or coincidental, first started with Sooraj Barjatya’s 1989 film, ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’ which had Bhagyashree romancing Salman Khan. A tale of two friends gradually falling in love with each other, was among the 10 most successful films of India at the time. It also marked Salman Khan’s debut in a lead role.

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Salman Khan’s next with Barjatya was musical romantic-comedy, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’, which also starred Madhuri Dixit, Mohnish Bahl and Renuka Shahane. A family story about love, relationships and sacrifices, the film was one of the most successful outings in the 90s, earning itself the label of a blockbuster at the box office.

Sooraj and Salman later reunited in 1999 for another family drama, ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, which once again had Salman a character named ‘Prem’.

Below is a complete list of films that had Salman Khan playing ‘Prem’ onscreen.

Maine Pyar Kiya – 1989
Andaz Apna Apna – 1994
Hum Aape Hain Koun..! – 1994
Judwaa – 1997
Deewana Mastana – 1997
Biwi No. 1 – 1999
Sirf Tum – 1999
Hum Saath Saath Hain – 1999
Chal Mera Bhai – 2000
Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye – 2000
No entry – 20005
Partner – 20007
Marigold – 2007
Ready – 2011
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – 2015